Employment law research

California AI Hiring Lawsuit Tracker

Cases, court decisions and updates on automated hiring, alongside clearly labeled historical employment screening precedents and national comparisons.

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois 13 C 4307Settled

EEOC v. Dolgencorp LLC (Dollar General) — Related screening enforcement / criminal background checks

Related screening enforcement / criminal background checks · National comparison

The EEOC announced a $6 million consent-decree settlement over alleged racial disparity in criminal background screening. Relief included changes to screening and reconsideration procedures. A settlement should be distinguished from a contested liability judgment; this case does not establish AI use.

Latest verified development

2019-11-18: The EEOC announced a $6 million consent-decree settlement over alleged racial disparity in criminal background screening. Relief included changes to screening and reconsideration procedures. A settlement should be distinguished from a contested liability judgment; this case does not establish AI use.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Settlement

    The EEOC announced a $6 million consent-decree settlement over alleged racial disparity in criminal background screening. Relief included changes to screening and reconsideration procedures. A settlement should be distinguished from a contested liability judgment; this case does not establish AI use.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit 05-4183 and 05-4311Decision issued

EEOC v. Dial Corporation — Historical selection precedent / strength tests

Historical selection precedent / strength tests · National comparison

The appeals court upheld findings that a pre-employment strength test discriminated against women and an approximately $3.3 million award to rejected applicants, according to the EEOC’s announcement. This is a physical-testing case, not AI.

Latest verified development

2006-11-17: The appeals court upheld findings that a pre-employment strength test discriminated against women and an approximately $3.3 million award to rejected applicants, according to the EEOC’s announcement. This is a physical-testing case, not AI.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The appeals court upheld findings that a pre-employment strength test discriminated against women and an approximately $3.3 million award to rejected applicants, according to the EEOC’s announcement. This is a physical-testing case, not AI.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit 04-2881; 411 F.3d 831Decision issued

Karraker v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. — Related assessment precedent / personality tests and ADA

Related assessment precedent / personality tests and ADA · National comparison

The court treated the MMPI assessment used for management advancement as an ADA medical examination and reversed on that issue. Other claims were affirmed. This historical psychological-assessment case does not establish that every personality test or AI assessment is medical.

Latest verified development

2005-06-14: The court treated the MMPI assessment used for management advancement as an ADA medical examination and reversed on that issue. Other claims were affirmed. This historical psychological-assessment case does not establish that every personality test or AI assessment is medical.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court treated the MMPI assessment used for management advancement as an ADA medical examination and reversed on that issue. Other claims were affirmed. This historical psychological-assessment case does not establish that every personality test or AI assessment is medical.

    Source document
Supreme Court of the United States 487 U.S. 977; No. 86-6139Decision issued

Watson v. Fort Worth Bank & Trust — Historical selection precedent / discretionary promotions

Historical selection precedent / discretionary promotions · National comparison

The court held that disparate-impact analysis may apply to subjective or discretionary selection systems. It vacated and remanded rather than making a final finding against the bank. This is a historical promotion case, not an automated screening case.

Latest verified development

1988-06-29: The court held that disparate-impact analysis may apply to subjective or discretionary selection systems. It vacated and remanded rather than making a final finding against the bank. This is a historical promotion case, not an automated screening case.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court held that disparate-impact analysis may apply to subjective or discretionary selection systems. It vacated and remanded rather than making a final finding against the bank. This is a historical promotion case, not an automated screening case.

    Source document
Supreme Court of the United States 433 U.S. 321; No. 76-422Decision issued

Dothard v. Rawlinson — Historical selection precedent / height and weight screens

Historical selection precedent / height and weight screens · National comparison

The court held that the challenged height and weight requirements violated Title VII, while separately addressing a narrow sex-based occupational-qualification issue for particular prison positions. This physical-selection case predates AI.

Latest verified development

1977-06-27: The court held that the challenged height and weight requirements violated Title VII, while separately addressing a narrow sex-based occupational-qualification issue for particular prison positions. This physical-selection case predates AI.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court held that the challenged height and weight requirements violated Title VII, while separately addressing a narrow sex-based occupational-qualification issue for particular prison positions. This physical-selection case predates AI.

    Source document
Supreme Court of the United States 457 U.S. 440; No. 80-2147Decision issued

Connecticut v. Teal — Historical selection precedent / pass-fail barriers

Historical selection precedent / pass-fail barriers · National comparison

A favorable overall promotion result did not shield an employer from a challenge to a discriminatory pass-fail test that blocked individual candidates. This historical selection-process ruling predates AI and concerns promotions.

Latest verified development

1982-06-21: A favorable overall promotion result did not shield an employer from a challenge to a discriminatory pass-fail test that blocked individual candidates. This historical selection-process ruling predates AI and concerns promotions.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    A favorable overall promotion result did not shield an employer from a challenge to a discriminatory pass-fail test that blocked individual candidates. This historical selection-process ruling predates AI and concerns promotions.

    Source document
Supreme Court of the United States Nos. 07-1428 and 08-328Decision issued

Ricci v. DeStefano — Historical selection precedent / promotion exams

Historical selection precedent / promotion exams · National comparison

The court held that discarding firefighters’ promotion-test results based on race violated Title VII absent the required strong basis in evidence of disparate-impact liability. This is a historical promotion-testing case, not an AI hiring case.

Latest verified development

2009-06-29: The court held that discarding firefighters’ promotion-test results based on race violated Title VII absent the required strong basis in evidence of disparate-impact liability. This is a historical promotion-testing case, not an AI hiring case.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court held that discarding firefighters’ promotion-test results based on race violated Title VII absent the required strong basis in evidence of disparate-impact liability. This is a historical promotion-testing case, not an AI hiring case.

    Source document
Supreme Court of the United States 422 U.S. 405; No. 74-389Decision issued

Albemarle Paper Co. v. Moody — Historical selection precedent / test validation

Historical selection precedent / test validation · National comparison

The court addressed backpay and validation of employment tests, finding the employer’s validation study inadequate and remanding. This historical test-validation decision predates AI; its application to any modern system requires separate legal analysis.

Latest verified development

1975-06-25: The court addressed backpay and validation of employment tests, finding the employer’s validation study inadequate and remanding. This historical test-validation decision predates AI; its application to any modern system requires separate legal analysis.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court addressed backpay and validation of employment tests, finding the employer’s validation study inadequate and remanding. This historical test-validation decision predates AI; its application to any modern system requires separate legal analysis.

    Source document
Supreme Court of the United States 401 U.S. 424; No. 124Decision issued

Griggs v. Duke Power Co. — Historical selection precedent / aptitude tests

Historical selection precedent / aptitude tests · National comparison

The court rejected diploma and general aptitude-test barriers that disproportionately excluded Black workers and lacked demonstrated job-relatedness. This foundational selection-testing decision predates AI and should not be presented as an AI lawsuit.

Latest verified development

1971-03-08: The court rejected diploma and general aptitude-test barriers that disproportionately excluded Black workers and lacked demonstrated job-relatedness. This foundational selection-testing decision predates AI and should not be presented as an AI lawsuit.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court rejected diploma and general aptitude-test barriers that disproportionately excluded Black workers and lacked demonstrated job-relatedness. This foundational selection-testing decision predates AI and should not be presented as an AI lawsuit.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit 17-1889Decision issued

Long v. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority — Related screening precedent / criminal background reports

Related screening precedent / criminal background reports · National comparison

Applicants challenged denial of jobs following criminal background checks. The appellate court affirmed in part and reversed in part the dismissal for lack of standing. This entry records the historical appellate decision, not the later settlement terms or current employer policy.

Latest verified development

2018-09-10: Applicants challenged denial of jobs following criminal background checks. The appellate court affirmed in part and reversed in part the dismissal for lack of standing. This entry records the historical appellate decision, not the later settlement terms or current employer policy.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    Applicants challenged denial of jobs following criminal background checks. The appellate court affirmed in part and reversed in part the dismissal for lack of standing. This entry records the historical appellate decision, not the later settlement terms or current employer policy.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit 17-3196Decision issued

Robertson v. Allied Solutions, LLC — Related screening precedent / pre-adverse-action report access

Related screening precedent / pre-adverse-action report access · National comparison

The court revived an applicant’s pre-adverse-action claim for standing purposes while affirming dismissal of the disclosure claim. Allegedly losing a chance to respond to adverse report information could be concrete injury. This is historical FCRA litigation, not AI.

Latest verified development

2018-08-29: The court revived an applicant’s pre-adverse-action claim for standing purposes while affirming dismissal of the disclosure claim. Allegedly losing a chance to respond to adverse report information could be concrete injury. This is historical FCRA litigation, not AI.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court revived an applicant’s pre-adverse-action claim for standing purposes while affirming dismissal of the disclosure claim. Allegedly losing a chance to respond to adverse report information could be concrete injury. This is historical FCRA litigation, not AI.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (Northern District of California origin) 16-17216Decision issued

Dutta v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. — Related screening precedent / pre-adverse-action notice

Related screening precedent / pre-adverse-action notice · California case

The court affirmed judgment for State Farm because the applicant did not establish concrete injury or material risk of harm from the alleged FCRA notice violation. The case concerns background screening and federal standing, not AI or a general exemption from notice duties.

Latest verified development

2018-07-13: The court affirmed judgment for State Farm because the applicant did not establish concrete injury or material risk of harm from the alleged FCRA notice violation. The case concerns background screening and federal standing, not AI or a general exemption from notice duties.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court affirmed judgment for State Farm because the applicant did not establish concrete injury or material risk of harm from the alleged FCRA notice violation. The case concerns background screening and federal standing, not AI or a general exemption from notice duties.

    Source document
Supreme Court of California S229428Decision issued

Connor v. First Student, Inc. — Related screening precedent / California background checks

Related screening precedent / California background checks · California case

The court held that overlap between ICRAA and CCRAA did not make ICRAA unconstitutionally vague as applied to employer background checks. Compliance with one statute did not eliminate applicable duties under the other. This concerns employee background investigations, not AI.

Latest verified development

2018-08-20: The court held that overlap between ICRAA and CCRAA did not make ICRAA unconstitutionally vague as applied to employer background checks. Compliance with one statute did not eliminate applicable duties under the other. This concerns employee background investigations, not AI.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court held that overlap between ICRAA and CCRAA did not make ICRAA unconstitutionally vague as applied to employer background checks. Compliance with one statute did not eliminate applicable duties under the other. This concerns employee background investigations, not AI.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit 16-3711 (consolidated with 16-3355)Decision issued

Groshek v. Great Lakes Higher Education Corp. — Related screening precedent / standing and disclosure

Related screening precedent / standing and disclosure · National comparison

The consolidated employment-background-check opinion rejected Article III standing based on the alleged disclosure defect without concrete informational or privacy injury. This is a historical jurisdictional decision, not a finding that all deficient screening forms comply with FCRA.

Latest verified development

2017-08-01: The consolidated employment-background-check opinion rejected Article III standing based on the alleged disclosure defect without concrete informational or privacy injury. This is a historical jurisdictional decision, not a finding that all deficient screening forms comply with FCRA.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The consolidated employment-background-check opinion rejected Article III standing based on the alleged disclosure defect without concrete informational or privacy injury. This is a historical jurisdictional decision, not a finding that all deficient screening forms comply with FCRA.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (California origin) 18-55804Decision issued

Luna v. Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport, Inc. — Related screening precedent / authorization forms

Related screening precedent / authorization forms · California case

The court affirmed summary judgment for the employer. Providing a standalone FCRA disclosure alongside other application materials was permissible; written authorization did not need its own standalone document. This is historical background-check litigation, not an AI case.

Latest verified development

2020-04-24: The court affirmed summary judgment for the employer. Providing a standalone FCRA disclosure alongside other application materials was permissible; written authorization did not need its own standalone document. This is historical background-check litigation, not an AI case.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court affirmed summary judgment for the employer. Providing a standalone FCRA disclosure alongside other application materials was permissible; written authorization did not need its own standalone document. This is historical background-check litigation, not an AI case.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (Oregon origin) 18-35592Decision issued

Walker v. Fred Meyer, Inc. — Related screening precedent / background-check disclosures

Related screening precedent / background-check disclosures · National comparison

The court found parts of an employment disclosure extraneous under FCRA and remanded the clarity issue. It rejected a claim that the pre-adverse-action notice had to offer a direct discussion with the employer. This historical case does not establish AI use.

Latest verified development

2020-03-20: The court found parts of an employment disclosure extraneous under FCRA and remanded the clarity issue. It rejected a claim that the pre-adverse-action notice had to offer a direct discussion with the employer. This historical case does not establish AI use.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court found parts of an employment disclosure extraneous under FCRA and remanded the clarity issue. It rejected a claim that the pre-adverse-action notice had to offer a direct discussion with the employer. This historical case does not establish AI use.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (Eastern District of California origin) 17-16263Decision issued

Gilberg v. California Check Cashing Stores, LLC — Related screening precedent / FCRA and ICRAA

Related screening precedent / FCRA and ICRAA · California case

The court held that extraneous state-law information violated standalone disclosure requirements and that the form was conspicuous but unclear. It affirmed in part, vacated in part and remanded. This is a background-check disclosure case, not AI litigation.

Latest verified development

2019-01-29: The court held that extraneous state-law information violated standalone disclosure requirements and that the form was conspicuous but unclear. It affirmed in part, vacated in part and remanded. This is a background-check disclosure case, not AI litigation.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The court held that extraneous state-law information violated standalone disclosure requirements and that the form was conspicuous but unclear. It affirmed in part, vacated in part and remanded. This is a background-check disclosure case, not AI litigation.

    Source document
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (California origin) 14-17186Decision issued

Syed v. M-I, LLC — Related screening precedent / FCRA disclosure

Related screening precedent / FCRA disclosure · California case

The amended appellate opinion holds that including a liability waiver in a job applicant’s FCRA disclosure violates the standalone-document requirement and addresses willfulness. This concerns background-check paperwork, not AI.

Latest verified development

2017-03-20: The amended appellate opinion holds that including a liability waiver in a job applicant’s FCRA disclosure violates the standalone-document requirement and addresses willfulness. This concerns background-check paperwork, not AI.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    The amended appellate opinion holds that including a liability waiver in a job applicant’s FCRA disclosure violates the standalone-document requirement and addresses willfulness. This concerns background-check paperwork, not AI.

    Source document
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts 1:23-cv-11483Decision issued

Baker v. CVS Health Corporation — AI video interviews / historical ruling

AI video interviews / historical ruling · National comparison

Applicant challenged a HireVue interview under Massachusetts’s lie-detector statute. A February 2024 order addressed the claims at the pleading stage. This historical ruling is not a final finding that the interview unlawfully detected lies. Later settlement or closure requires docket verification.

Latest verified development

2024-02-16: Applicant challenged a HireVue interview under Massachusetts’s lie-detector statute. A February 2024 order addressed the claims at the pleading stage. This historical ruling is not a final finding that the interview unlawfully detected lies. Later settlement or closure requires docket verification.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    Applicant challenged a HireVue interview under Massachusetts’s lie-detector statute. A February 2024 order addressed the claims at the pleading stage. This historical ruling is not a final finding that the interview unlawfully detected lies. Later settlement or closure requires docket verification.

    Source document
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan 2:25-cv-12403Dismissed

Harper v. Sirius XM Radio, LLC — AI screening allegation

AI screening allegation · National comparison

Applicant alleged racial discrimination through AI-assisted recruiting. The court granted judgment on the pleadings and dismissed the complaint without prejudice for insufficient factual allegations; it did not establish that AI discrimination occurred.

Latest verified development

2026-09-30: Applicant alleged racial discrimination through AI-assisted recruiting. The court granted judgment on the pleadings and dismissed the complaint without prejudice for insufficient factual allegations; it did not establish that AI discrimination occurred.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    Applicant alleged racial discrimination through AI-assisted recruiting. The court granted judgment on the pleadings and dismissed the complaint without prejudice for insufficient factual allegations; it did not establish that AI discrimination occurred.

    Source document
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York 1:22-cv-02565Settled

EEOC v. iTutorGroup, Inc. et al. — automatic age-based rejection

Automated application rejection / age discrimination · National comparison

The EEOC alleged that tutor application software automatically rejected older applicants using age thresholds. The agency announced a $365,000 settlement and nonmonetary relief in September 2023. This is a national automated-hiring comparison.

Latest verified development

The EEOC’s September 11, 2023 announcement describes a consent decree, $365,000 for rejected applicants and at least five years of compliance monitoring. This is a settled enforcement case, not a currently pending liability action.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Settlement

    EEOC announces $365,000 settlement and additional relief addressing alleged age-based automatic rejections.

    Source document
Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois 2026LA00000141Pending

Deyerler et al. v. HireVue, Inc. — video-interview biometric privacy

Automated video interviews / Illinois biometric privacy · National comparison

Applicants allege that HireVue collected facial and voice biometrics in Illinois without required disclosures and consent. HireVue denies collecting BIPA-covered biometrics and denies wrongdoing. This is an Illinois national comparison.

Latest verified development

A proposed $3.75 million settlement received preliminary approval on June 25, 2026. The administrator lists final approval for October 28, 2026. Final approval has not yet occurred as of this check.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Settlement

    Court preliminarily approves the proposed settlement; final approval remains required.

    Source document
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California 4:26-cv-01768-YGR (state origin: C26-00214)Pending

Kistler et al. v. Eightfold AI Inc. — applicant scores and consumer reports

AI candidate ranking / FCRA and California consumer reporting · California case

Two applicants allege that Eightfold’s candidate profiles and scores are consumer reports subject to federal and California disclosure requirements. These are the plaintiffs’ allegations, not established findings.

Latest verified development

The court filed an order on July 24, 2026 vacating the August 4 dismissal hearing. The reviewed sources do not establish a later merits disposition; a current docket check is needed before publication.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    Order filed vacating the August 4 hearing; the order permits a later hearing or a written decision.

    Source document
  2. · Filing

    Applicants file a proposed class-action complaint in Contra Costa County Superior Court.

    Source document
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California 3:23-cv-00770-RFLPending

Mobley v. Workday, Inc. — automated applicant screening

AI applicant screening / employment discrimination · California case

Applicants allege that Workday’s screening tools discriminate based on age, race and disability. The case remains in litigation; procedural rulings do not establish that the alleged discrimination occurred.

Latest verified development

An October 7, 2026 discovery order permits fifteen limited depositions of declarants supporting the class-certification motion. This is a discovery ruling, not a liability judgment.

Last checked: 2026-10-14 · Reviewed by George S. Azadian on 2026-10-14

Case timeline
  1. · Ruling

    Court grants in part and denies in part discovery requests concerning opt-in declarants.

    Source document
  2. · Ruling

    Court grants preliminary collective certification on the age-discrimination claim.

    Source document

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